Depression and chronic renal failure: a socio-psychological analysis

This study aimed to apprehend the social representations elaborated by nephrology patients on hemodialysis treatment and their relatives about depression and chronic renal failure (CRF). The sample was non-probabilistic and comprised 52 participants, of whom 26 were patients. They answered a socio-demographic questionnaire, the hospital anxiety and depression scale, and a semi structured interview. Data were collected in three hospitals and processed by the SPSS 19.0 and Alceste programs and analyzed using descriptive statistics and lexical analysis. It was found that the social representation of depression was anchored on psychic/cognitive, physical/organic and psychosocial elements; mostly objectified through sadness and isolation. The CRF was represented based on psychosocial adversity lived by the social group investigated. It was observed that this disease was anchored in family and spiritual support, food and water restrictions, associated with lack of knowledge about hemodialysis.
Source: Psicologia e Sociedade - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research